In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the upbringings of Victor and his monster influence their character formations and their perceptions of morality, which relates to the question of whether nature or nurture influences behavior. Victor lived a privileged childhood and was worshipped as an idol, but his constant pursuit of knowledge interfered with the formation of his moral rectitude. Victor mirrors the morals of his society, valuing appearance, rank, and personal endeavors above the needs and concerns of others. On the other hand, the monster symbolizes the antithesis of societal values; his unnatural creation and void of a parental figure fosters an environment in which his childlike mentality must confront the barbarity of man. After his
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Once brought to life by the hands of his monomaniac creator, the monster immediately experiences the consequences of his unnatural origin. All human sensations overwhelm and incapacitate him, rendering the Victor’s presumed “abhorred daemon” as innocent and inexperienced as a child. Then, the monster’s abandonment from his creator leaves him to discover the necessities of life. Similar to Victor’s self-taught learning in the natural sciences, the monster pursues information necessary to understand humanity and his existence. He observes the lives of a family from afar and witnesses the familial ties which represent a form of social responsibility, yearning for connection to society. Learning more about the human condition and sense of conduct through observing the family and through reading books, the monster realizes his marginalization but remains stagnant in his hopes that people will see through his artificial exterior: .The monster’s affection grows everyday along with his envy for companionship, hoping that . However, when he reveals himself as the benefactor to the family, they shun him, demonstrating society’s superficial values based on appearance. Seeking validation and benevolence from any living creature, the monster remains isolated in his existence until he encounters William and kills him after another form of human rejection. In an effort to cope with his existence, the monster pursues and confronts his creator to create a
Once brought to life by the hands of his monomaniac creator, the monster immediately experiences the consequences of his unnatural origin. All human sensations overwhelm and incapacitate him, rendering the Victor’s presumed “abhorred daemon” as innocent and inexperienced as a child. Then, the monster’s abandonment from his creator leaves him to discover the necessities of life. Similar to Victor’s self-taught learning in the natural sciences, the monster pursues information necessary to understand humanity and his existence. He observes the lives of a family from afar and witnesses the familial ties which represent a form of social responsibility, yearning for connection to society. Learning more about the human condition and sense of conduct through observing the family and through reading books, the monster realizes his marginalization but remains stagnant in his hopes that people will see through his artificial exterior: .The monster’s affection grows everyday along with his envy for companionship, hoping that . However, when he reveals himself as the benefactor to the family, they shun him, demonstrating society’s superficial values based on appearance. Seeking validation and benevolence from any living creature, the monster remains isolated in his existence until he encounters William and kills him after another form of human rejection. In an effort to cope with his existence, the monster pursues and confronts his creator to create a